Popcorn is the oldest known variety of corn and has been enjoyed for over 6,700 years.

In 2012, a team of researchers led by Dolores Piperno from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They analyzed ancient corn cobs, husks, and stalks found at the Paredones and Huaca Prieta archaeological sites on Peru's northern coast. Using radiocarbon dating, the team determined that these samples were approximately 6,700 years old, placing their use around 4700 BC.The discovery is significant because it suggests that early inhabitants of the region were eating corn in several ways, including popping it and eating it off the cob, well before corn became a primary staple of their diet. The physical structure of popcorn is unique because its kernels have a non-porous hull that traps moisture inside. When heated, the pressure from the steam builds until the hull ruptures, causing the starch to expand into a foam that quickly solidifies.This archaeological evidence indicates that popcorn predates the development of ceramic pottery in the region. Since it did not require boiling or complex grinding tools, it was an ideal food source for mobile or early settling societies. The study also suggests that corn was likely brought to Peru from Mexico and then underwent further diversification, eventually leading to the thousands of varieties known today.